Support for launching artillery shell fireworks

ABSTRACT

A fireworks artillery launch system comprised of individual support housing units that are capable of being quickly connected together to permit a sequential array of artillery launchers. Each individual support housing unit comprises a base member for supporting a plurality of silo cavities for receiving mortar tubes. A platform support member for the housing unit has a configuration to enable a male/female connection between adjacently placed support housing units to permit an assembly of a series of support housing units. The male/female connection configuration enables a quick and simple connection together of multiple units to permit connection of additional base units in either a parallel arrangement or a serial arrangement to create an enhanced artillery shell launch system.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present U.S. non-provisional patent application is related to and claims priority benefit to earlier-filed provisional patent applications titled ARTILLERY SHELL LAUNCHER, Ser. No. 62/905,651, filed Sep. 25, 2019, and ARTILLERY

SHELL LAUNCHER, Ser. No. 62/969,258, filed Feb. 3, 2020. The identified earlier-filed applications are hereby incorporated by reference into the present application as though fully set forth herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the use of fireworks. More specifically, the invention relates to support frames for use in the firing of artillery shell fireworks from mortar shells placed on the ground or other surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A more spectacular type of firework is the artillery shell which typically comprises reloadable shells that are deployed and propelled from tubes. The tubes can be constructed of cardboard, fiberglass or plastic. Artillery shells are also referred to as mortars and reloadable aerials. These types of fireworks include one or more mortar tubes and several reloadable aerial shells. Typically, the aerial shell shoots flaming balls and other explosive and sparkling effects into the air.

To provide variation and enhanced excitement to the effects of the aerial shells, a series of several mortar tubes can be adjacently aligned so that simultaneous and/or successive and sequential blasts can be arranged and timed through appropriate arrangement of the fuses in manners well known to those skilled in the art. A frame structure is typically provided to contain and support the mortar tubes in vertical and adjacent alignment so that the assemblage of mortars can be placed on the ground in a stable manner.

While such a frame structure is not complex and is not difficult to construct, it is limited in its capacity for adding further mortars so that further artillery shells can be added in sequence. If additional frame structures have been constructed beforehand, they can be connected to the first frame structure as desired by affixing them together such as by nails, screws or other fasteners. However, if the successively added frame structures are not properly aligned and joined, there is a dangerous risk that the propelled shells may veer off in an unintended direction that may cause harm to users and spectators.

It would therefore be desirable to provide a system for connecting together multiple frame structures for holding multiple artillery shell mortars in a quick, convenient and safe manner. It would be further desirable to provide for a frame structure for holding artillery mortar shells that is of uniform and sound construction whereby a series of such frame structures may be easily and quickly joined together in a manner by which to provide sufficient stability in launching multiple artillery shells. It would be further desirable to provide a frame structure for holding artillery mortar shells that can be quickly and conveniently staked to the ground to provide stability to the artillery shell launcher during deployment of the mortar shells. It would be further desirable to provide a system of frame structures for holding artillery mortar shells that can be easily disassembled after use so that the frame structures may be reusable for future use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a fireworks artillery shell launch system comprised of individual base units that are capable of being quickly and stably connected together to permit a sequential array of artillery launchers. In one embodiment, each individual base unit comprises a mortar launch member comprised of a vertically extending central housing having a plurality of silo cavities for receiving mortar tubes. Platform leg members extend laterally outward from the central housing to provide support and stability for the central housing to maintain the silo cavities in a vertical orientation with respect to the surface on which the base unit is placed. Holes are provided in the platform leg members for receiving stakes by which to secure the base unit to the ground. In another embodiment, the base unit provides for a single silo cavity centrally located on the mortar launch member in vertical orientation.

The side edges of the platform leg members have a configuration to enable a male/female connection between adjacently placed base units to permit an assembly of a series of base units connected together through the male/female configuration. The male/female configuration can be of any shape that permits a quick interlocking of the units. For example, the side edges of each platform leg member can be configured in male and female shapes to facilitate a dovetail joining configuration between adjacent base units.

The male/female connection configuration enables a quick and simple connection together of multiple units to create an enhanced artillery shell launch system. If desired, all four side edges of the vertical central housing can be configured with a male/female connection configuration to permit connection of additional base units in either a parallel arrangement or a serial arrangement.

These and other features of the present invention are described in greater detail below in the section titled DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The present invention is described herein with reference to the following drawing figures, with greater emphasis being placed on clarity rather than scale.

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a single base unit of the artillery shell launcher system.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a base unit of the launcher system.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of two base units prior to being joined together.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of two base units joined together.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of multiple units joined together in both a serial and parallel arrangement.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing two units in preparation for joining together.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings figures, a support for launching artillery shell fireworks is herein described, shown, and otherwise disclosed in accordance with various embodiments, including a preferred embodiment, of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a support housing 10 for the artillery shell launcher comprising a frame structure for supporting reloadable artillery shells. The support housing comprises a base member 12 and platform support member 14. Base member 12 comprises a vertically extending central portion in which a plurality of silo cavities 16 are disposed for receiving the artillery shells 18 to be launched. Base member 12 shows six individual silos 16 where each would receive an artillery shell 18 to support six shells per base unit. However, the launcher can be configured to have varying numbers of silos and can alternatively comprise a single silo cavity.

Platform support member 14 has laterally extending edges 20 and 22 to provide stability to the base member 12 as it is supported on a surface such as the ground. A plurality of holes 24 are provided in laterally extending edges 20 and 22 to receive stakes for securing support housing 10 to the ground. Support housing 10 may be constructed from plastic and may be formed by molding from a single piece. Support housing 10 may also be constructed of separate pieces such that the silos may be assembled with base member 12 when preparing for launching.

Each support housing unit 10 is configured for adjacent connection with additional support housing units. The perimeter side edges of platform support member 14 are configured with a coupling structure whereby multiple support housing units may be adjacently joined together. A male configuration 26 is provided in at least one portion of the perimeter edge of laterally extending edges 20 and 22 of platform support member 14. Similarly, a female configuration 28 is provided in at least one portion of the perimeter edge of laterally extending edges 20 and 22 of platform support member 14. The male and female configurations having complementary dimensions whereby the female configuration is adapted to receive the male configuration. By bringing the male configuration 26 along the edge of a platform support member of a first support housing unit 30 into alignment with the female configuration 28 along the edge of a platform support member of a second support housing unit 32, the two support housing units can be joined together.

Preferably, the coupling structure comprises a male/female configuration defining a dovetail shape. In this configuration, the dimensions of the male and female portions are complementary such that the male portion interlocks with the female portion. The dovetail shape permits ease of connection by simply raising one support housing unit above a second support housing unit at the point of connection as shown in FIG. 6 such that the male configuration 26 can be dropped into female configuration 28 to effect the connection. The perimeter edges of platform support member 14 can be configured to have a single male/female dovetail configuration per edge, or the entire edge can be configured with a series of alternating male and female configurations.

The male/female dovetail connection configuration can be built into all four side edges of platform support member 14 so that an artillery shell launch system can be constructed where the mortar silos are arranged in parallel fashion or in serial alignment such as shown in FIG. 5. The dovetail configuration permits both a quick connection and quick disassembly so different arrangements of deployment of artillery shells can be created on the fly during a fireworks show as desired.

Although the invention has been disclosed with reference to various particular embodiments, it is understood that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims. 

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following:
 1. A support housing for supporting a plurality of fireworks artillery shells for firing, the support housing comprising a base member and a platform support member, the base member adapted to receive a plurality of shells, the platform support member comprising a planar member for support on a surface during firing of the shells, a perimeter edge of the platform support member defining a first portion comprising a male configuration, and a second portion defining a female configuration, the male and female configurations having complementary dimensions whereby the female configuration is adapted to receive the male configuration, whereby a first base member may be adjacently connected to a second base member by aligning at least one of the male and female configurations along the perimeter edge of the first planar member with at least one of the corresponding male and female configurations along the perimeter edge of the second planar member.
 2. The support housing of claim 1 in which the male and the female configurations define a reciprocal dovetail shape.
 3. The support housing of claim 2 in which the perimeter edge defines a series of alternating male and female configurations.
 4. The support housing of claim 1 in which the male and female configurations are placed along positions on all sides forming the perimeter edge of the platform support member whereby a connection between the first and second base members may be made along any of their respective sides.
 5. The support housing of claim 4 in which the male and the female configurations define a reciprocal dovetail shape, and the perimeter edge defines a series of alternating male and female configurations.
 6. The support housing of claim 1 in which the platform support member provides at least one anchoring aperture.
 7. A system for connecting together a series of fireworks artillery shells for firing, the system comprising a support housing for supporting the fireworks artillery shells, the support housing comprising a plurality of base members and platform support members, each base member adapted to receive a plurality of shells, each platform support member comprising a planar member for support on a surface during firing of the shells, a perimeter edge of each platform support member defining a first portion comprising a male configuration, and a second portion defining a female configuration, the male and female configurations having complementary dimensions whereby the female configuration is adapted to receive the male configuration, whereby a first platform support member may be adjacently connected to a second platform support member along their respective perimeter edges by aligning at least one of the male and female configurations along the perimeter edge of the first platform support with at least one of the corresponding male and female configurations along the perimeter edge of the second platform support member.
 8. The system of claim 7 in which the male and the female configurations define a reciprocal dovetail shape.
 9. The system of claim 8 in which the perimeter edge defines a series of alternating male and female configurations.
 10. The system of claim 7 in which the male and female configurations are placed along positions on all sides forming the perimeter edge of the platform support member whereby a connection between the first and second support housings may be made along any of their respective sides.
 11. The system of claim 10 in which the male and the female configurations define a reciprocal dovetail shape, and the male and female configurations are placed along positions on all sides forming the perimeter edge of the platform support member whereby a connection between the first and second support housings may be made along any of their respective sides.
 12. The system of claim 7 in which the platform support member provides at least one anchoring aperture.
 13. A system for connecting together a series of fireworks artillery shells for firing, the system comprising a support housing for supporting the fireworks artillery shells, the support housing comprising a plurality of base members, each base member adapted to receive a plurality of shells, a perimeter edge of each base member having a coupling member, whereby base members may be adjacently connected to each other along their respective perimeter edges by connecting together their respective coupling members.
 14. The system of claim 13 in which the respective coupling members are releasably connected to each other.
 15. The system of claim 14 in which the perimeter edge of each base member defines a first portion comprising a male configuration, and a second portion defines a female configuration, the male and female configurations having complementary dimensions whereby the female configuration is adapted to receive the male configuration, whereby a first base member may be adjacently connected to a second base member along their respective perimeter edges by aligning at least one of the male and female configurations along the perimeter edge of the first base member with at least one of the corresponding male and female configurations along the perimeter edge of the second base member.
 16. The system of claim 15 in which the male and the female configurations define a reciprocal dovetail shape.
 17. The system of claim 15 in which the perimeter edge defines a series of alternating male and female configurations.
 18. The system of claim 15 in which the male and female configurations are placed along positions on all sides forming the perimeter edge of each base member whereby a connection between the first and second base members may be made along any of their respective sides.
 19. The system of claim 18 in which the male and the female configurations define a reciprocal dovetail shape, and the perimeter edge defines a series of alternating male and female configurations. 